MIAMI – The San Antonio Spurs took a calculated risk early in the 2013 Finals, allowing – almost daring – LeBron James to shoot jump shots, treating it as the least potent of his many poisons.

Turns out, it was one of those slow-acting toxins, taking a full seven games before crippling and finally taking the life out of the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. James, the Miami Heat superstar whose game is the most scrutinized in basketball, adapted and overcame yet again, scoring 37 points with 12 rebounds in 45 minutes in the 95-88 Game 7 clincher.

James boosted Miami to its second consecutive NBA championship, in its third straight trip to The Finals, by launching 20 of his 23 shots from outside the paint. It was the most for him since his ballyhooed move to south Florida in July 2010.

He was perfect on the three he got inside, mind you, but James did his greatest damage from longer distances. His 9-for-20 from outside wasn’t as accurate as what he shot overall this season (56.5 percent) but it was deadly all the same, coming over San Antonio’s defense on shots that the Spurs were prepared to live with, yet could not survive.

James even hit five 3-pointers on his first seven attempts on a night when corner-and-arc specialists Ray Allen and Mike Miller were a combined 0-for-9. Shane Battier was the Miami 3-point shooter who was hot, draining six of his eight, but James was the bonus sniper on the perimeter. So much so that, with a couple more, the nitpickers who have stalked his career for impact and legacy might have complained that he doesn’t mock-shrug nearly as well as Michael Jordan.

“Two-and-half games I watched film, and my mind started to work and I said, ‘OK, this is how they’re going to play me for the whole series,’ ” James said after joining Jordan and Bill Russell as the only players to win back-to-back MVP awards and NBA championships.

“I looked at all my regular-season stats, all my playoff stats, and I was one of the best mid-range shooters in the game. I shot a career high (40.6 percent) from the 3-point line. I just told myself, ‘Don’t abandon what you’ve done all year. Don’t abandon now because they’re going under [screens]. Don’t force the paint.’

“Just saying everything you’ve worked on, the repetition, the practices, the offseason training, no matter how big the stakes are, no matter what’s on the line, just go with it.”

James went with it all the way to his second Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award, becoming the ninth player in league history to win more than one. He joined Jordan (1991-’93, 1996-’98), Hakeem Olajuwon (1994-’95), Shaquille O’Neal (2000-’02) and Kobe Bryant (2009-’10) as the only ones to win that honor in consecutive years.

The hordes who root against James, who pick at any failings in his play at any point in any game, had nothing late Thursday night. It might be a while before they have something again.

“The vision that I had when I decided to come here is all coming true,” he said, his 37 points the most in a Finals Game 7 since Jerry West scored 42 while losing to Boston in 1969. It bumped up James’ scoring average in Game 7 situations, already a record, to 34.4. The Heat star averaged 25.3 in these Finals, 25.9 in the 2013 postseason.

“I said before the series I was a better player than I was last time I faced the Spurs,” said James, whose Cleveland team got swept by San Antonio from the 2007 Finals. “To be able to come through for my teammates in the biggest moment on the biggest stage makes me more satisfied than anything in the world.”

This second title – they’re at the “not three” point now in their boast of multiple Larry O’Brien trophies – fulfilled a remarkable season in which Miami posted a 66-15 record in the regular season, strung together 27 victories in February and March and went 16-7 in the postseason through two seven-game challenges against Indiana and San Antonio. Winning Game 7, limiting the Western Conference champs to 17 points on six field goals and seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, and making good on the expectations and the hype triggered the expected celebration – and kept a lot of ever-ready critics off their backs for the next five months.

But this was no “Big Three” production. Dwyane Wade, Miami’s veteran and hobbled shooting guard, pulled out a performance from the days when he still had knees, scoring 23 points with 10 rebounds. “All the giddiness is the champagne talking,” said Wade, who gained his third ring (his first came in 2006) but whose future and present were questioned constantly through his gimpy postseason. “This is the sweetest one by far.”

Forward Chris Bosh, however, went scoreless in almost 28 minutes, missing his five shots. Allen and Miller gave the Heat nothing offensively, either, making Battier’s performance so vital as coach Erik Spoelstra shuffled through his deck. And much-maligned point guard Mario Chalmers, maddening at times to teammates and Heat fans, still found ways to torment the Spurs through his 6-for-15 shooting for 14 points.

Not that San Antonio needed any more torment. The Spurs already had been through a mental wringer for two days, pushing away bad memories from Game 6 and their lost failures at its end. They shook those, seemingly, and even took a 71-69 lead with five seconds left in the third quarter. But Chalmers’ buzzer-beating bank shot from 28 feet made it 72-71 and, from there, the Spurs were noble, relentless pursuers – but they never led again.

The desperation and the fatigue appeared to wear on them – the Spurs missed seven of their first 10 shots in the fourth quarter and turned over the ball five times in seven minutes. Manu Ginobili, shakier again beyond his 6-for-12 shooting and four turnovers, was an obvious goat and one of the few San Antonio players who admitted to lingering Game 6 trauma.

But Ginobili had company. Young Danny Green, a Finals record-breaker in hitting 25-for-38 3-pointers through the first five games, went 1-for-11 from that distance in the final two games. With Miami’s defense finally taking him seriously, Green shrunk in the big-game glare. He shot 1-for-12 Thursday, eventually aiming and praying the ball or passing up shots altogether.

Kawhi Leonard stepped up (19 points, 16 rebounds, exhausting defense on James) but Gary Neal and Boris Diaw stepped back. Then there was Tony Parker, who lay claim to being the league’s best point guard during the playoffs’ first three rounds and dominated Game 1 of the Finals, was 3-for-12 for 10 points and scoreless in the final quarter, a victim of James’ defensive mismatch and orchestrated Heat pressure.

Last and assuredly not least, there was Tim Duncan, poised to snag his fifth championship ring and fourth Finals MVP award had the Spurs managed to win but struggling down the stretch. It was Duncan’s turnover off an offensive rebound, trying to reset San Antonio’s possession, that set up Battier’s final 3-pointer to make it 88-82 Miami. It was Duncan forcing and missing a hook shot at 90-85. And it was Duncan missing a chance to tie – a point-blank hook and a tip – with less than a minute left that sealed the Spurs’ fate.

After a timeout, James probed from the outside, then hit – what else? – a 19-footer that made it 92-88. A short while later, after the horn and an on-court celebration that 48 hours earlier nearly had been theirs, it all was a little much for the Spurs’ great big man.

“Tough to swallow,” he said. “Game 7, missing a layup to tie the game. Making a bad decision down the stretch. Just unable to stop Dwyane and LeBron. Probably for me, Game 7 is always going to haunt me.”

In those moments, the spectre of James likely will loom large, his outside jump shots flying just over Duncan’s outstretched fingers. It happened several times Thursday, a challenge met and defeated, more often than San Antonio could survive.

FOR THE LOVE OF… Shut up! Just accept it. He played great and you know it. You’re just another ignorant Heat Hater that has nothing to do except post useless comments about how James “didn’t” play well and “didn’t” deserve to win (although I’m neutral on that). So, bottom line, SHUT UP.

No team in NBA history won a championship with only ONE superstar. NO TEAM… Even the 2004 Pistons were a collection of really good players. Criticizing LeBron for leaving the Cavs is a STUPID and UNFAIR argument in downgrading his greatness. He deserves ALL the accolades that are due, especially considering the ridicule he receives from NBA fans and media. KUDOS LeBRON!!!

Hello I disagree with the manner in how The Miami Heat won the finals. I don’t feel honestly that these games were preformed fairly especially game 6 and 7 in my opinion. I’m not in the place to say if teams or ref’s or players were forcing a game 7 or favoring another team it seemed to fixed for me to continue to watch. I’m a honest loyal SAC KINGS FAN and these games are to unreal to believe. Manu is a professional how long has he been in the league? and he turned it over three times in the biggest part of the game. Please tell me every professional sport isn’t a fixed sport? that would mean I can’t watch Football or Baseball and now Basketball. Is that what it’s come to I’ve gotten to smart for sports, and tv. Is this country under control or something is everyone just a paid actors. What has the world come to when I can’t respect any sports figure or celebrity not even the ones I use to like. How long can you manipulate the public not everyone is a moron.

Like someone sais before: no flagrants, no pushing, no tras talk.
Just the two best teams of the NBA battling it out . The way it’s supposed to be. It could’ve gone either way. Both deserve it.

Nobody’s coming down hard on Duncan and Parker, rightfully so! They are human, as is Lebrron. Nobody should diss Ginobili either. If you play basketball (as I do) you know you don’t play your best game night after night.

Get Real If u mean by that James need the same number of rings as MJ to Become the all Greatest then let me tell u this: MJ is not longer the greatest sinds Bill Ruseel out scores Him by 5. Bill Has 11 rings and MJ only 6, so if the number of rings define the players Legancy then MJ has to come Back and Win 6 pore rings To advance Bill and Become the All Greatest, Otherwise LBJ Can be seen as one of the grestest.

I honestly don’t know how james with only 2 rings to his name can be the greatest player for years the Nba has been a bios sports they focus on who they want to make famous and not really looking for Talent. U check all that come out of their mouth is james this james that smh.they need to be real they are many young talents that is not being fairly respresented.

People are dumb. NO TEAMS, and I mean. NONE has ever won a championship without at least a tandem of 2 or a big three. Maybe Detroit of 2003-2004, but even that team had great players on it just not the superstar caliber that went against a troubled team chemistry of Lakers that year. but through all years. you need a TEAM, and at least 2 great players to accomplish such… Even Jordan Had Pippen, Kobe had Shaq, and Pau. What Lebron had in Cleveland was none sorry to say… Tell me which championship team had only 1 GREAT player and the rest mediocre and I will rest my case.

As a Miami Heat supporter, I am naturally very happy with the Heat win, more particularly with the way LBJ and D. Wade played together last night. It was really a “hall of fame” play as Coach Pop mentioned later in the press conference.

I also appreciate the fact that these two teams have so much respect for each other. It could be anyone’s series but at the end LBJ made the difference. This is called greatness.

Upon reflection over the season, I should say that NBA benefited a lot from some great games, and will continue to get benefited in the next season.

We will see some super-star in the making as I believe.

Step Curry
George Paul
Kwhi Leonerd

Plus we already have LBJ, KD, Westbrook, Derek Rose, CP and Melo.

A new great season will come up for 2013-14.

The teams to watch in the east are: Pacers and Bull (along with Heat)
The teams to watch in the west are: Warriors, Memphis, Thunder and of course, Spurs (I am not sure about Clippers because of their coach problem)

I love the Heat and I knew they were going to perform. At some point, I got really scared cuz the Spurs were brilliant too. Like the great coach papavich said, this series is a big boy series and I completely agree. Wish I was in Miami now to celebrate……
We fight, we fight, we fight, we fight Dwayne wade !!!!!!!Great series

James never choked!!!!
Anyway it would be great one day that some writers speak up the truth: game 7 should’ve never happened; robbery was performed in game 6 (not by the Heat players – but why does the refs miss obvious calls like that , that changes the name of the champions)??? Game 7 was a win very well deserved for the Heat, but again, why did we had a game 7?
It’s very sad to overshadow the truth……………and continuing like that nobody will remember the truth!

I’m so sad for Duncan!!!

That said…now let’s get ready for NBA DRAFT 2013 – Go my Nets make some good moves!

Mid-range jumpers and corner threes: Staples in the Spurs offensive gameplan since 1996.. Funny that the Heat beat them at their own game. What a series!!! I can’t wait until next season. Rose, Westbrook,Kobe,Rondo, were all injured. CP3 DWIGHT, JSMOOVE, KG, MONTA all be on different squads.

First and foremost, I want to express my respect for coach Popovich and his 3stars: Tim Duncan aka “The Big Fundamental”, Tony Parker and Ginobli! What a bunch! And San Anttonio Spurs, what an organization! They gave the Miami Heat the best resistance, which led to the best finals series I personally have ever seen.

Then you have to pay tribute to “King” James. What a warrior! The guy is “just” 28years old and has already created so much debates – due to his impressive game – during his career, that you would give him 35years or something like that – sick! To all those who have scorned him (the media, basketball fans around the world and especially Cleveland Cavaliers president and som of Cavs supporters who expressed their hatred for the guy who have put their “little” team to the spotlight, to the world: let me wish all of them a great summer!🙂 Lebron is the 3rd player in history to winn 2 consecutive the NBA-tittes and also be awarded MVP these respective 2years! As Lebron James fan since 2006-2007, I wanna conclude with these three words wich express my feelings: JOY, HAPPYNESS and PRIDE!

im a heat fan. im not going to mock all the LBJ haters. both teams showed a true heart of a champion. sadly though only one team has to win and that is MIAMI. hats off to SPURS.. truly a great team and franchise.

I used to be a L James fan, but after watching him in this series I’m not as impressed as I used to be. The only reason he scored 37 points in game 7 was because the Spurs didn’t even guard him when he was outside the box. When Jordan used to shoot I would think “that’s going in” but when Lebron shoots I find myself thinking “that might go in, but probably not.” I think it’s because Jordan was so fluent in his shot. Lebron doesn’t look comfortable shooting the ball. This was just one of those games where Lebron was able to knock down his shot, but on most nights I bet he struggles from the outside. If it wasn’t for Manu turning the ball over all the time the Spurs most likely would have won. I’m not saying Lebron and the Heat didn’t earn this game, because they did… but if you ask me I’d say Lebron is overhyped.

I love LBJ and the Miami Heat, but the true MVP is D Wade. He allowed two superstars to come to his team, and took a back seat to Lebron James so that they can go to 3 consecutive NBA Finals and win back-to-back Championships!!! GO HEAT!!!

I love it how you guys are mentioning the haters so much. At this point, although I am neutral (my name says it) I am happy for the Heat. It was 2005 Spurs who beat the Pistons in the Finals , but the Detroit were the ones who ousted the Miami Heat to get there. So much repsect all around.

I need my GPS because i can’t find all the Heat haters!! Congrats to LBJ and the Miami Heat for shutting up all the loudmouths who thought the Heat couldn’t do it. Much respect goes out to the San Antonio Spurs and their fans, they just as easily could have deserved to win the Championship too. The Spurs proved that they’re not a bunch of old and ailing Superstars, but a great basketball team…with that said, GO HEAT

This is by far the best series of the last years. I’m a die hard Lakers fan, but hats off to LeBron, he was a killer last night. A well deserved title. Haters gotta give credit to the man. Just feel sorry about TD, he’s such a competitor and one of the true greats to ever play the game.

Congrats to the SPURS for giving the NBA FANS an excellent series! However, there can only be one Champion. (But no matter what both teams are champions in my mind). Congrats to the Heat! Go for three peat!

Today I heard from my friends that the Spurs were too old to compete.I’m sorry but Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard don’t seem old to me and besides in Popovich’s system everyone can thrive coz we saw just how lethal the Spur’s offence was and just how much it exposed the Heat’s weaknesses.The fact that they win depsite all that is the reason why the Heat deserve to be champions.

So much respect to the spurs nobobody expect them to the finals not until rusell westbrook is injured..but winning a game 7 in the road is not an easy task.. I dont hate the spurs there not playing dirty like the bulls and pacers..tnx spurs for this epic series..all u ls lebron haters its time to shut the hell up..

Finally! James won his 1ST FULL SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Last year should’ve not been counted as full since it was a lockout season. To pretend it is equal to an 82-game season championship is an insult to those who even won a championship in a full season.

Congrats to the Heat. This is coming from a Spurs fan BTW. It was great to see Timmy playing like the old school Tim we all love again.

Both squads look just flat outta gas in this one. LBJ decided he wanted bad enough. We dared him to shoot and so he did. That amongst other mistakes and well, simply rotten luck on our part too.

Nuff said. Can’t complain at all, the Spurs and Heat made this Finals run interesting for sure. Glad Wade didn’t get seriously hurt and was able to hang in there. Ultimately they prevailed. We didn’t. Enjoy your victory Miami.

Hey man, it’s fans like you that help me keep things in perspective. Upfront, I’m not a fan of neither team, but for a time I hated the Heat more. I didn’t like the Spurs because of their history with the D’Antoni-Nash Suns. I despised the Heat because of the whole “Decision/Championship celebration” fiasco, as if the league was supposed to surrender titles to the Heat even before the “Big 3” had their first practice session. But I’ve learned, especially in this Finals, that you may not care for a team, you could even hate them, but that doesn’t mean you can’t respect them and respect what they’ve done.

The Spurs have been in playoff contention possibly longer than any other team in any of the four major sports. They’ve won 4 championships in that span. 7 NBA teams have yet to even make the playoffs. Yeah the Spurs beat up on the Suns, but it proved the Spurs system was consistently better than the Suns. The Spurs system also outlasted the Suns, as we can all see.

As for the Heat, they lost their first shot at the title. That was humbling enough. And they certainly earned their last two, especially this year. Having the best season overall record and going through not one but two 7 game series in a row, anyone can hate them, but no one cannot say they didn’t earn it. Loyalty is important to me, as some of the greatest players in the game did not win championships. They stuck with their teams and became Hall of Famers. The Heat players came to together to win championships. Regardless of the loyalty bit, they accomplished their goal and it certainly hasn’t been easy for them.

I’m not a bandwagonner. I won’t become a fan of the Spurs or Heat, despite that they won the back to back championships. But now I can respect both teams and be the sportsman that you and the Spurs were last night and say Hats off to the Spurs for a great series and Congrats to the Heat for their accomplishment.

As I’ve heard once, the best championship is the next one. Let’s see if the Heat can three-peat. The last team that reached the finals four years in a row was the Lakers, 1982-1985. The last team to win 3 championships in a row was the Lakers, 2000-2002. But for now, the Heat are back-to-back champions and regardless of what happens here on out, no one can take that away from them, like no one can take the 4 championships from the Spurs.

jeff Caplan: Spurs in 6… lol… I only follow the NBA through TV and internet because i’m from philippines but this guy ( jeff caplan ) made me wonder why he is confidently picking the spurs to win in 6 games? is he disrespecting or hating the miami heat? I’m a heat fan but i don’t underestimate the Spurs. I can feel that sekou smith is picking the heat to win but the good thing about him is he don’t really say to his article (confidently) that the heat will win. Sekou said in his articles that this series can be win by either team, not one sided comment unlike Jeff Caplan.. Sekou is giving respect to the spurs even if he feels the heat could win this series..

Hope Heat keep team intact for next year and until their contracts run out fully.While I would love to see Lebron return to Cleveland to help lead my Cavs to an NBA title,I would rather see a Dynasty and one that wins at least 7 straight titles.Lebron is from my hometown,and he has put AKRON OHIO on the map!Go Lebron!!!
Sincerely a diehard Cavs fan!

great game…but i still believe the spurs deserved it even more…without Ray Allen they wouldn’t even reach game 7…it took Miami 7 games to defeat the spurs who has ailing and old superstars…i’m pretty sure they’ll have a hard time to repeat next year once superstars on the east like derrick rose and danny granger gets back into shape…might not even reach the finals

Do you even watch basketball? When D rose had a great team they got mopped by Miami…..Granger will throw off the dynamic of George, gunnery, west, because with him they won’t have that MUST SCORE dynamic which is what carried them……you should give up on hating on this obvious dynasty and just embrace you got to witness greatness at it’s best. I mean honestly bro anyone who actually loves THE GAME will appreciate this series, not bash who, what, when, where and why.

So wat if it took 7 games? Who won? haters always have the reason and excuses nullifying the word of acceptance..How about ur lakers? Supposed to be number 1 in seed. Before the season u said that lakers will be the 2013 champs because of line up. Zzz not even close to fight for 2nd round. Ooppss spurs 4-0 over ur team.

its time to celebrate for James and Co. they deserved the Thropy, i hope they could keep the players intact to continue and depend that Championship. Hats off to Coach Spo, for allowing Lebron to play what was his best shot even before he learned to play Post,..with the caliber of James, undoubtedly, he is now the best ever to play the game…Mabuhay Lebron!!

Did you even watch game 7, or even read this article you’re commenting on? He shot well from outside the paint, and from beyond the arc. This season was also his all time best from beyond the arc at 40.6% How can you even say he’s nothing without the dunk.

Finally the funeral service came to San Antonio. I think they will looking hard at game 6 and what could have been. It was such a close finals that I could have easily been reading about a different champion.

Great game 7, maybe one of the greatest. Both teams are a true champions and they have played great basketball. The Heat earned the title fair and square, they have played tough playoffs with aggressive teams, teams who are not worthy to play in the finals and it was great to see a worthy opponent. Congratulation to my Heat, you have made us proud.

Dominance minus choking=King James. No haters in sight. So much for being a choker. Game 7 NBA FINALS no problem for lbj. Don’t tell me he did horrible because even the greats of the past had their help and their off days in the playoffs. Good night haters see you next fall.

It was Karma. The Spurs should have put the Heat away in Game 6. Taking the foot off the jugular evoked their own demise. This will haunt them for a long time and Tim Duncan will have to take it to his retirement

Doesn’t matter. He made the shots when it counted the most. LeBron could have driven it, considering he had a open lane half the time, but chose to shoot the 3 and make 5 of them. Maybe historic that he got 4 triple doubles in this series alone? Only other players in history just to get 2 are Magic and Bird, and LeBron got 4. And LeBron averages the most points in NBA history for elimination games and games sevens, well, those are the same. But the game six’s against the Spurs this year, Boston last year, etc. Those weren’t game 7’s, obviously.

Was hard to watch. All grit!
Everyone says “teamwork’ when referring to the Spurs, but the Heat showed what team work truly is – even more!
Everyone at some point made ONE play which extended the series and made victory in game 7 happen!
Shane Battier, Bosh, even Bordman hit a three! Who’da thunk that!
I wrote Lebron Off 20 seconds left in game 4. My shamed? not really – he’s a workhorse – he misses misses misses and you see the stats he scored 40!! When did he score all that! Truth is he’s a workhorse and over-scrutinized – but he needs to be aggressive thats his forte! I’m happy for all the boys down at Miami
Don Kenobi
Lagos

lebron next few seasons will be a beast from mid range
great article! great game! great playoffs! great finals! great season! great… champions!
i dont want to rub it in to spurs fans cause i also love the spurs but… yes yes yes we did it we did it we did it woo hoo nba champs baby yeah yeah yeah yeah we told u so!!!!!!……………………. now time for a 3peat!!
congrats miami heat! back 2 back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
now will everyone stop hating on lebron!!!!!!!!!!

a well deserved title for the miami heat..a heartbreaking miss by TD and turnovers cost them the championship, again opportunity knocks only once (for SA’s big 3 likely this will be their last trip to the NBA finals).. as for the haters, watch LBJ celebrate his second ring🙂

he will never be considered great in my book. he ran from the challenge in cleveland to make it it easier on him to win a title. short cut to the rings does not make him great. almost every true star to play in the nba has stayed true to their original teams, and if they did leave to another a team it was not to make a big 3. the challenge is what sports are about. there is no challenge for a team up like wade, lebron and bosh in the weak east. pacers look like the only team that might stop them in east, but teams need to start waking up. he is just lucky this time that spurs choked at the end of game 6 before ot. shouldve never gone to ot, but it is what it is now. ready for next year. lets go mavs

Question for all Lebron “Haters”? If LeBron stays in Cleveland to the tune of never winning a championship, does he still garner GOAT consideration? I think not, because no matter how great a basketball “team” player LeBron is, there’s still too much social stigma equating career success to championships. I think it’s safe to say that Jordan’s name is mentioned more now amidst Lebron winning championships than during his time in Cleveland.

That said, I think LeBron should be considered in the GOAT discussion when his career is said and done, if only because I think every teammate with which he plays would laud his unselfish style of making the “right” basketball play. Every player will make mistakes. Jordan made his share, Russell too, and Lebron many more. I think we should come to appreciate the living legend that is LeBron James.

By the way, I think that LeBron leaving Cleveland for Miami can be viewed as a show of respect for the game of basketball and the appreciate of such as a team sport. LeBron could not do it alone under the Cleveland organization. I dare anyone to cross-compare the support staff for Jordan’s championship runs to LeBron’s during his finals runs in Cleveland. Come on, really?!?!